The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-08-24
wn1TEsI,yE"yIS COLONIAL rEa,%s.
Eet;emp,inucrs or Term Slavcs--Free-
Wi,:er> and In;icEteI SERVANTS.
(From the New York PoSt.)

(From the New York Post.)
Many persons who consider themselves
familiar with the history OF this country
are not aware that in the last century
white men, women and children we're
held in bondage; that the colonial laws
in favor Of such servitEde were as eX-
plic;t and severe as were those in sup
port negro slavery. Such white persons
owing personal service to individual
masters were generally known US ':term
slaves" though their legal status VAS
represented by the word redemption
er.
Isaac Weld, Jr., in his book OF travels
in America, published il the las: cen
turT. asserts that il was the custom of
sl:pn1asters at Rotterdam and the HaDse
towns to inyeiglo the people on 10 their
vessels, under promise of free passage to
America. On reaching the colonies an
nouncement OF the arrival Of mechanics
and laborers would be made, and per-
sons in want of such would flock to the
shops, and the poor Germans would be
sold to the highest bidders, the captains
pocketirg the proceeds.
!
early part of the eighteenth century a
peculiar feature of colonial anxiety.
They were recruited from among all
manner OF people in the old world, and
through this channel Europe empt!ed
upon America not only the virtuous poor
and oppressed of her population, but
the vagrants, felons and dregs of her
communities. There was thus establish
ed among the settlers society that, in
many places, was almost imbued with a
moral pestilence. Among the redemp-
TONERS, however, were fair proportion
of sturdy souls, strong in purpose and
endea7or, who appreciated the great
opportunity created for them by this
complete change OF life and country.
At the expiration of their term OF SER
vice many, by thrift and industry, ele-
waited themselves to respectable posi-
tions, and were absorbed IN the middle
class.
There were two kinds Of redemption
-ssindentcd servants who had
bound themselves to their masters for
term of years previous to leaving the
old country, "free-willers," who, being
without money and desrous of emigrat
ing, agreed with the captains Of ships to
allow themselves or their families to be
sold on arrival for the captains advapt-
age, and thus repay costs OF passage and
other expenses. The former-indented
servants-werc often trapped into their
Ell engagements by corrupt agents at hume,
who persuaded them ali under false
promises oi tender and humane treat
ment, aud assurances of rcnlunerative
employment at the expiration Of service,
which would insure a competent provis-
ion for the remainder of their days. The
enig-ants often discovered on arrival
that the advantages to be obtained in
America had been painted By the agents
in much 100 alluring colors. Frequently
their masters forced them to most rigid
labor and exercised an unnecessary
severity.
The free-willers suffered even worse
treatment at the hands Of Shipmasters
and agents. They were led to believe
that on arrival in America their services
would be eagerly solicited by persons
who would gladly pay the costs Of their
passages; which being only 80, the
0migrants would soon be able to repay,
the eni&rants would soon be able to
repay, and thus be able to secure their
liberty and all the enjoyment and pros
perity that the new country offered to
adventurers. Agreements were entered
into whereby these deluded ones bound
themselves, that if, on arrival, they did
not succeed within certain number of
days in securing employment on their
own terms, they could be sold for term
of Yeas to defray the charges for their
passages. Alas! the ''freewillers, with
rare exceptions, had q rude awakening
on reaching the colonies. Under their
agreements the captain had a legal lien
on the persons OF the emjgrants until
the ship charges we're paid: consequent
ly they were not allowed to so on shore,
but were exposed to view on deck to the
people who came on board in search Of
servants. Except in cases of extraordi-
na1y qualifications, veIy few of them
were happy enough to make their own
stipulat;ons, and they found themselves
sold for several years Of tedious labor
and servitude.
The terms OF conditions Of service
differed in the different colonies. Among
the archives of the Pennsylvania His
torical Society are some original bonds,
or agreements, between ship captains
and redemptioners. From them We
learn that the usual price paid in that
colony for three years service was ga
Is. and Cd. When his time had expired
man was entitled to receive two suits
Of clothes, a grubbing hoe, wedding
hoe and a new axe. Children sold for
from IS to so, and their masters were
required to see that they were taught to
read and write, and had at least one
quarters schooling.
In New Jersey-according to LEAN
ing and Spicer"-no white servant, if
sold or bound after seventeen years of
age, could serve above four years. II
under that age, they were to be free on
reaching their majority. At the expira-
ton Of service their master were obliged
to supply them with two good suits Of
clothing, suitable tor a servant, one
good telling axe, one good hoe, and
seven bushels of Indian corn. 4 scr.lant
was to be Immediately freed in case OF
being SO abused by master or mistress as
to result in the loss Of an eye or tooth.
The laws against aiding redemptionists
to escape were very severe. ! fne OF
Is was imposed for Offering assistance
in such cases, and the alder aud abettor
was obliged to make iull satisfaction to
master or mistress for all loss, damage
or cost sustained by the absence OF or